IFA president rejects mandatory PRSI increase for self-employed

Any proposal for a mandatory increase to PRSI for the self-employed would place an unfair additional cost on self-employed workers, said IFA president John Bryan.

The farmer representative group leader said such a move would place an unfair burden of increased income taxes and charges on the self-employed, and have a negative impact on output and employment.

Mr Bryan said: “Under the existing PRSI system, employees receive benefits that are not available to the self-employed, such as jobseeker’s and illness benefit. If there is to be an increase in the PRSI rate for the self-employed, this must be voluntary and accompanied by a proportionate increase in the range of benefits that are available to this group.”